BANNER YEAR: Longtime Florida philanthropist Dr. Anissa King-Paul named Making Headline News’ International Women’s Day Woman of the Year for 2026
Andre Johnson 
“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others.” — Michelle Obama, Former First Lady, United States of America
ONE SHINING MOMENT
Growth.
Stretching.
Refinement.
That, by all accounts, is how Dr. Anissa King-Paul described what was a banner 2026 for the longtime Florida businesswoman.
“When you are building something that impacts lives — especially women in leadership — you quickly realize that vision requires resilience,” Dr. King-Paul said. “I navigated transitions within my organization, strengthened leadership structures, refined systems, and made difficult executive decisions that prioritized long-term sustainability over short-term comfort.”
To her credit, it is due in large part to the incredibly immeasurable strides Dr. King-Paul had made during the past year that have given way to this esteemed empowerment extraordinaire being named Making Headline News’ International Women’s Day Woman of the Year for 2026.
SALUTING WOMEN WHO SHAPE OUR WORLD
“I was genuinely humbled,” Dr. King-Paul said of being a recipient for MHN’s highest global honor. “Recognition is never something I chase — impact is. To be acknowledged in this way reminded me that the work matters. The long nights, the strategy sessions, the prayers, the pivots — they are not unseen.”
Originally called the International Working Women’s Day, this day is celebrated annually on March 8 and customarily commemorates the movement for women’s rights.
According to https://www.internationalwomensday.com/, organizations and individuals around the world have collectively become committed to helping women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenge conscious and unconscious bias, as well as call for gender-balanced leadership and value women and men’s contributions equally.
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In addition, this day was designed in part to create inclusive flexible cultures. From awareness-raising to concrete action, organizations rallied their people to pledge support to help forge gender parity on International Women’s Day and beyond, according to a spokesperson for IWD.
“It also felt symbolic. International Women’s Day celebrates strength, resilience, and advancement — and those are the very pillars I stand on,” Dr. King-Paul told MHN. “I received the honor with gratitude, but also with a renewed sense of responsibility to continue lifting as I climb and creating spaces where women can rise together.”
Moreover, Dr. King-Paul said her achievements this past year were centered largely one specific ambition: stewardship.
“Personally and professionally, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about the spotlight — it’s about stewardship,” Dr. King-Paul said. “It’s about protecting the vision, even when it’s uncomfortable. The challenges pushed me to become clearer, firmer, and more aligned with my purpose. In many ways, the adversity confirmed that I am exactly where I’m called to be. Growth isn’t always glamorous, but it is always necessary.”
When asked what International Women’s Day means to her, Dr. King-Paul said:
“International Women’s Day represents visibility, voice, and victory. It is a reminder that women are not just participants in history — we are authors of it. It is about celebrating progress while acknowledging there is still work to be done. It’s about women supporting women, not competing from a place of scarcity but collaborating from a place of strength and confidence.
“For me, it’s deeply connected to my work with high-achieving women of Ms. Corporate America — helping them see that they can lead, build, and expand without shrinking themselves to fit into rooms they were meant to command,” Dr. King-Paul continued. “As someone who pours into women daily, I don’t do the work for applause — I do it for impact. Receiving this recognition felt like confirmation that the mission is resonating and that women are ready to broaden their horizons and elevate their standards.”
Looking ahead, Dr. King-Paul emphasized, among other things, her variety of empowerment platforms will focus strategically on inspiring women to broaden their horizon and maximize their potential.
“I will continue creating platforms that stretch women beyond what they thought was possible,” Dr. King-Paul said. “Through leadership development, competitions that highlight executive presence, speaker training, and community-building experiences, I aim to help women refine both their confidence and their competence.
DESTINY STEPS
Continued King-Paul:
“Inspiring women isn’t just about motivational words — it’s about structure, access, and accountability. I want women to have the tools to build sustainable businesses, command rooms with authority, develop emotional intelligence, and create generational impact.
“I want women to understand that they don’t have to choose one lane. You can be multi-passionate and multi-impactful. You can lead in boardrooms, build brands, write books, raise families, and still evolve.”
Not to mention, grow, stretch, and refine.
For more information about Florida Businesswoman Dr. Anissa King-Paul of LPT Realty (License #SL3598711), to inquire about real estate opportunities or publicity services, to purchase a copy of her book, Passion Driven Life, or to schedule her for a speaking engagement or public appearance, call 863-825-5996 or send email to: YourRealtorQueen@gmail.com.
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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA, NFL, and NCAA sports from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
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